a shameless flatterer, just like your brother. Although Fariq didn’t reveal that trait at first.”
Penny laughed. “That was before he saw through your disguise.”
An interesting time, Kamal remembered. His aunt had gone to an exclusive agency in New York to hire a new nanny for his brother’s children, preferably a plain woman who would not attract undue attention and disrupt the palace. She’d come back with two new employees who had bewitched his brothers. He realized his aunt was also responsible for bringing Ali Matlock here to work in the hospital and wondered if he should be concerned. Then he decided not to be. He had yet to meet the woman who could persuasively divert him from his duty. Ali was nothing more than a distraction; he wouldn’t let her be anything more.
But he was expected to produce an heir. Soon. The hints from his father and aunt Farrah were getting bolder and less veiled.
Crystal sighed. “Did you know the first time I met Fariq he told me beautiful women are an unwelcome distraction?”
“No,” Kamal said a little too quickly and forcefully. She couldn’t know he’d just had the same thought a moment ago. But Ali had splintered his concentration, producing the weakness. Fortunately, she worked in the hospital, not the palace. It was unlikely she would distract him a second time.
Just then the sound of female laughter carried to him, before Princess Johara waddled—walked—into the room. Behind her was his own personal unwelcome distraction. Ali Matlock.
“Kamal!” His sister came forward to greet him.
He leaned down and kissed her on both cheeks. “How are you, little one?”
“Not so little.” She placed her hands on her bulging belly. “Did Aunt Farrah tell you what the doctor said? My blood pressure?” she asked, her lovely dark eyes brimming with worry.
“I was informed.” He looked at Ali.
She was dressed as she’d been when he’d seen her at the hospital several hours before. White lab coat over green scrubs. Women in El Zafir dressed conservatively with long sleeves, high necklines and hems that covered their legs to mid-calf. She was covered appropriately for her work, but somehow what he couldn’t see tantalized him more. Her auburn hair was twisted up and off her collar, but several tendrils caressed her cheeks and flirted with her long neck. Big eyes, brown with flecks of green and gold, stared back at him.
Six months ago, he’d seen her dressed for a ball. He’d thought about her often in the intervening months and couldn’t comprehend why. She was a woman just like any other. So why had he been unable to forget her?
“We meet again,” he finally said.
“So we do. Since I’m managing hospital L and D, Dr. McCullough thought I should be his nurse today. He returned to the hospital, but I’m off duty and Princess Johara insisted I stay on after the house call.” She looked around the suite and laughed. “Some house.”
“The first time I saw the palace,” Penny said, “I wanted to drop a trail of crumbs so I could find my way out.”
“I hear that,” Crystal agreed. “But, trust me, all the walking is good for a girl’s waistline.”
“Unless you’re big as a house,” Johara said ruefully.
“As long as there are no complications, walking is good for you in your condition. Or should I say conditions.” Ali grinned at each of them in turn. “A plethora of pregnant princesses.”
Everyone laughed. Including Kamal.
“You should do that more often.” Ali was studying him. “Your subjects will be less likely to run screaming from the room.”
“No one screams or runs from me—”
“Sometimes they do have to run.” Penny stood. “This pregnant princess has an appointment with the minister of education. Please say he’s going to have good news for me,” she added, meeting his gaze.
“Sufficient funds have been allocated for your early childhood education program,” Kamal informed her.
“Excellent.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you all at dinner tonight.”
“Wait,” Crystal said, standing. “I have to go, too. The twins will be finished with their art lesson shortly. I love seeing their drawings.” She kissed his other cheek. “Bye, all. Ali it was great to meet you. I’m sure we’ll be seeing you again soon.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” she answered.
“I’m afraid I must go as well.” Aunt Farrah placed her empty teacup on the table and stood. “Ali, thank you for coming. If there is anything you require while you’re in the hospital’s employ, I insist you let me know.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
When everyone left, Kamal was alone with only two women—one very pregnant. The other disturbed him more than she had just several hours before. The laughter she’d provoked had briefly disarmed him.
“Kamal, Ali asked me to show her around my suite. I’m so glad she’s here. The doctor scared me. He said high blood pressure during my pregnancy could put the baby in danger.”
“And you, too,” Ali warned. “But let’s not borrow trouble. It’s important you stay calm.”
“I was very calm,” the girl said, “until he told me all the horrible things that could happen to my baby. But you made me feel better.”
“I’m glad.”
“If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I have to—” She looked at her brother. “That is, I need to—”
“Use the bedpan—so to speak?” Ali finished for her.
“Yes!” Her eyes narrowed as she looked at her brother. “Keep Ali company. Be nice.”
“I am always eminently cordial,” he said. That was the second time it had been implied that his formality could be intimidating. He was merely being polite.
His sister rolled her eyes without reply, then left the room. Leaving him alone with Ali.
“I wish to know the truth,” he said. “Her blood pressure? Is it serious?”
“Dr. McCullough takes pregnancy very seriously. And so do I.”
“As do I. But is there danger to my sister?”
“Not immediate. Everything I said to her is absolutely true. There’s nothing for you to be alarmed about.”
“On the contrary. When a woman is with child there is always cause for concern. Johara’s mother died from pregnancy complications. A rare condition, we were told, but she was still gone. My sister was five years old.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, obviously shocked. “I didn’t know.”
“It was many years ago. But about my sister. She’s young—merely in her teens. It would
